HISTORIC P&G BAR CLOSING, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS TIME IT’S NOT COMING BACK
The famous P&G Bar, perhaps the best-known dive bar on the Upper West Side, will shut its doors for good on August 16, the owners just announced on their Facebook page.
Two years ago, P&G left its original location at the corner of West 73rd Street and Amsterdam, a space it had inhabited for 44 years, and reopened on 78th Street and Columbus. The old bar had been around for 66 years and had a famous red, yellow and green neon sign familiar to any Upper West Sider who has lived in the neighborhood, or stumbled by it drunk, for the past few decades. It was, indeed, a fine place to sit in the dark and drink a cheap beer. But that location closed in January 2009 after the owners lost their lease following a big rent increase and the bar reopened in a basement space at 380 Columbus Avenue a few months later. Then this May it closed again and reopened under new owners. But they apparently couldn’t keep up with their debts. Via facebook:
“P&Gs will be closing on August 16th. Cant get past some old demons(and some old debt)thank you everyone, and my sincerest apologies to you all and all the musicians. I rode the old horse hard as she could go, and now shes tired and needs some rest. hope to be able to see you all sometime soon, on either side of the bar (like usual lmao) Thanks for the music and the love. drink up and think happy thoughts-Steve-O”
We toast to you, P&G Bar. You had a truly amazing ride, and you quenched the thirst of many thousands of Upper West Siders. As Jeremiah of Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York said in a post on the closing: “Raise a glass and say goodbye–one more time.”
For other recent Upper West Side openings and closings, click here.
Photo of the old P&G by masck via flickr.
So sorry to see the P&G go. Worked with mt brother in law Tom (sadly recently deceased and former owner) in the seventies and it was a great and fun place. Too bad it had to go.